THE death of David Smith prompted Jennifer Leeming to call for drink-drivers to be shopped.

Share

Get daily updates directly to your inbox

Thank you for subscribing!

Could not subscribe, try again laterInvalid Email

THE Salford coroner is appealing for people to report drink drivers and 'shop a mate' at the inquest into a teenager's death.

Jennifer Leeming spoke out after the inquest into the death of 19-year-old David John Smith from Irlam.

The teenage mechanic crashed into oncoming traffic while driving down the wrong side of the M60 motorway near Eccles in March last year.

His blood alcohol level was almost three times the legal limit for driving.

David had gone for a Friday night drink with his boss after work and normally would only stay for one and then drive home. However, he was having a good time and called dad Leslie Smith to say he would get a taxi.

Witnesses said David and a friend got into the car to drive home after last orders. Despite hitting other vehicles in the car park, smashing into a bus stop opposite the Cock pub in Worsley and his passenger getting out to walk, nobody was able to stop David from driving away.

Once on the M60, a number of cars had to swerve to avoid him but Tony Clark was unable to get out of the way before the head-on collision. He suffered several broken bones but survived.

Mrs Leeming said: "This is no reproach to those who have given evidence, but how we feel generally as a society.

"We are all reluctant to ring the police and report it - to shop a mate - but we must remember and take a positive lesson. If we do that we can save lives.

"Not just the life of the individual, but the life of those with whom that person comes into contact having driven when having had too much to drink."